It’s Baaaaaaack…

Yup, this highly embarrassing video can only mean one thing: we should never be on camera it’s Pinterest Challenge time (not sponsored by Pinterest or anyone else, just dreamed up by Katie Bower to make us stop pinning and start doing). My favorite part is the outtake. Yes I’m saying I’m going to pee on myself at one point. Elegance is my middle name.

The whole Pinterest Challenge thing started over a year ago when Katie called me to say that she thought we should challenge ourselves to make one thing each season that’s inspired by all the gorgeous stuff that we’ve pinned (and call it… wait for it… The Pinterest Challenge). It’s a welcome slap of stop-pinning-and-start-doing. And we ended up having such a great time with our first Pinterest Challenge last summer, our second one in the fall, and our third one in the winter that we’re psyched to be back with the summer edition (oops, spring got away from us – how is it July already?). So put on those slap bracelets and bodysuits (what? that’s not your choice celebratory attire?) and let’s get this DIY party started!

The only rule is to do your own personal take on something inspirational that you’ve pinned (and link back to the original creator of the project that inspired you, be it a company like Anthropologie or a personal blog that got your wheels a turning). We especially love to pin things from sites that have “Pin It” buttons at the bottom of their posts since it indicates that they enjoy popping up on Pinterest. The project can be anything: big or small; decor or sewing or cooking related – or beyond! The first time around John and I made a clothespin light fixture for the laundry room, the next time I tackled 38 homemade holiday ornaments, and the last time I faced my sewing demons head-on and somehow made a beanbag-ish pouf for Clara’s reading nook in her closet.

This time I thought I’d paint something. Not a wall or a piece of furniture, but a piece of art. I’ve only really blogged about one attempt that I’ve made in the past few years (this guy) but it’s high time that changed – especially since art is my first love. I actually went to an art university in NYC (I have a bachelor of fine arts – which I never use!). Thankfully, John got me an awesome art supply gift card as part of my Christmas present (and all the supplies I got with it have sat unused in my closet mocking me for the past six months). I’ve already pinned some ideas, but I’m not sure what style I’ll end up going with – but I’ll be back with all of the deets when I (fingers crossed) complete the challenge next Tuesday. In the meantime, here’s what’s inspiring the pants off me (figuratively speaking – no worries I’m still wearing pants):

Clara art. She painted me something with reckless abandon (more on that here) and I’ve always loved it. It hangs right over my desk, so it totally counts as inspiration.

Here’s a cool DIY art project that I saw on Pinterest (she actually used a toothpaste lid to make a grid of charmingly irregular circles). You can read all about it here.

Kristen over at KFD Designs is always inspiring me. I actually emailed her to make sure she was ok with me pinning her art since she’s a legit artist and I didn’t want to insult her by pinning it (as if I’d ever be able to do anything this awesome). She was so sweet about it and said she didn’t mind at all. She does commissioned art for anyone who wants to get this look, and as for me – I’m just using her as my muse. Haha. The color palette definitely has me drooling.

Here’s another DIY art project that was actually done for a Pinterest Challenge with us. So I thought that was awesome – our little challenge inspired her to make something, and in turn, her result inspired me! Full circle, baby.

As for other places that I’ve found art inspiration – Michelle Armas is unparalleled (seriously, total girl crush going on) and this post about making abstract art over on Oh Happy Day has me feeling excited to tackle this challenge. Sure, I might bomb it, but at least I’m not sitting around wishing I could get back into painting! There was actually a time when my room was covered with watercolors, acrylics, and oil-paintings that I had made. Ah to be young and artistic again, haha. Oh and you’re probably wondering who else is playing along with me and Katie Bower (aka: The Esteemed Bacon-Eating Pinterest Challenge Founder). Well, we thought it would be fun to ask different folks to “guest host” with us each time, so we’re thrilled to have:

Michelle of Ten June (last time she crafted some clothespin vases) <– Clara put her hand on Michelle’s belly at Haven and called what was inside (a boy!). So far she has an 100% accuracy rate of rubbing bumps and announcing what’s inside.

So here’s the part where I extend my arm with a crooked smile and true paranoia of bombing it in the art department and humbly invite you to join in on the fun by doing your own spin on something you pin! We figured we’d give everyone (and ourselves) the weekend to work on stuff and reconvene next Tuesday morning (the 10th) to share our projects. We’re hoping this’ll turn into the same über fun share-fest that we soaked up for the last few seasons (check out all the amazing linked-up projects here, here and here). So just drop in next Tuesday to see what we’ve done – and to submit links to stuff that you’ve completed so we can all check it out. Maybe we’ll even pin a few things. And so the vicious cycle continues. In the meantime, do you have any ideas what you’ll tackle this time around? Is it food, craft, sewing, painting, or furniture related? Would love to hear about what you guys think you’ll do!

Psst- One more time, for the people in the back: regardless of the fact that I say Pinterest about thirty times, this wasn’t paid or perked by them or anyone else. We’re just eye-candy obsessed gals who are sick of coveting things and downright ready to do them. Well at least one of them…

Katie actually has a waterproof case for her Flip Video – which is what we used. It was awesome! As for Baby Bower- that’s totally why I wimped out and didn’t want to bump her hard at all. Instead I just got laid out. Hahah. She kept telling me to hit her harder and I was like “no! the baby!” – but maybe I’m just a wimp…